THE ELEPHANT. 153 



efforts, fractured his skull, and died on the 

 spot *. 



In the Philosophical Transactions, a story is re- 

 lated of an Elephant having such an attachment for 

 a very young child, that he was never happy but 

 when it was near him. The nurse used, therefore, 

 very frequently to take the child in its cradle, and 

 place it between his feet. This he became at length 

 so much accustomed to, that he v/ould nev^er eat 

 his food except when it was present. When the 

 child slept, he used to drive off the flies with his pro- 

 boscis ; and when it cried, he would move the cra- 

 dle backwards and forwards, and thus rock it again 

 to sleep -f. 



A sentinel belonging to the present menagerie 

 at Paris, was always very careful in requesting the 

 spectators not to give the Elephants any thing to 

 eat. This conduct particularly displeased the fe- 

 male; who beheld him with a very unfavourable eye, 

 and had several times endeavoured to correct his 

 interference by sprinkling his head with water 

 from her trunk. One day, when several persons 

 were collected to view these animals, a b3''-stander 

 offered the female a bit of bread. The sentinel per- 

 ceived it ; but tlie moment he opened his mouth to 

 give his usual admonition, she, placing herself im- 

 mediately before him, discharged in his face a con- 

 siderable stream of water. A general laugh ensued ; 

 but the sentinel, having calmly wiped his face, stood 



* Ponn. Q.uad. i. 155. related fiona Ludolp!;. Cora, in Hist. 

 ^Eth. 117. 



t IMiil. Tran. xxviii. G5. 



